West Bank: Deadly Israeli settler attack on Palestinians
Twenty-year-old Sayfollah Musallet, a US citizen from Florida, was beaten to death and Mohammed al-Shalabi, 23, was shot during Friday's attack, their families said. Residents say the settlers blocked efforts to help the dying youths.
Razek Hassan al-Shalabi, Mohammad's father, sat among the town's inhabitants and relatives who came to mourn the young men at the school. "In the morning he told me he wanted to get married," he told DW. "He talked about starting a family, and now we bury him."
Across the street, at the Musallet home, women gathered to support the family in their grief. Saif, as Sayfollah was nicknamed, had arrived in June from his hometown, Tampa, to spend the summer with relatives in the town, which is roughly 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Ramallah.
"He was like a little brother," Diana Halum, a cousin who is acting as the family's spokesperson, told DW. "We travelled together, back and forth from the States to Palestine. He came here to visit his cousins, his friends."
"Not in a million years did we think something so tragic would happen," Halum said. "And it's just, it's the way they killed him, too. I mean, he was lynched by aggressive, illegal Israeli settlers, and left there for hours."
On Friday, the family released a statement saying medics had tried to reach Musallet for three hours before his brother managed to carry him to an ambulance. He died before they could make it to the hospital. "This is an unimaginable nightmare and injustice that no family should ever have to face," the family said. "We demand the US State Department lead an immediate investigation and hold the Israeli settlers who killed Saif accountable for their crimes."
The State Department says it is aware of reports of a death of a US citizen in the West Bank. Officials declined to comment further "out of respect for the privacy of the family" but said the department was ready "to provide consular services."
'A daily reality' in the West Bank
The youths had gathered with others following Friday's noon prayers to show their presence in the fields where, just weeks ago, settlers attacked residents who had organized a march to protest settler violence and attempts to seize the land.
In an initial statement following Friday's attack, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that "terrorists hurled rocks at Israeli civilians," leading to a "violent confrontation" that included "the vandalism of Palestinian property, arson, physical clashes and rock hurling." The IDF acknowledged reports that at least one Palestinian had been killed and a number injured and claimed that the incident would be "looked into." The families say the youths' bodies showed signs of torture.
In response to an inquiry from DW, the IDF referred to its earlier statement and added that "following the incident, a joint investigation was launched by the Israel Police and the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division."
It was just the latest violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, in southern Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, such attacks have become "a daily reality," according to the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs. Between January 2024 and May 2025, OCHA has documented over 2,070 settler attacks, resulting in casualties and property damage in the West Bank.
Settlers regularly raid villages or install illegal outposts to harass and threaten Palestinians, often in the presence of Israeli soldiers or police who do not interfere. Israeli rights groups and Palestinians report that settlers have been recruited as reservists.
West Bank | Al-Mazra'a a-Sharqiya
Shock, grief, resignation
For several hours following the attack, Razek Hassan al-Shalabi said, he had believed that his son Mohammed was in IDF custody. When he discovered that evening that the information was incorrect, local residents searched for Mohammed. According to the family and the Palestinian Health Ministry, they found him severely beaten and shot in the back.
Friends of the two young men gathered at the school on Saturday, looking shocked. Iyad, who declined to give his surname, said that his cousin Saif and Mohammed were in the same friendship group and used to hang out together. "They were always the ones that would cheer everyone up, they never brought you down, if you needed them, they were always there," Iyad told DW.
A young Palestinian American himself, Iyad said people in the occupied West Bank also believed that Israeli settlers carried out their attacks with a sense of impunity. He said the United States rarely intervened on the behalf of people who were the victims of such attacks or their families.
"Sadly this only got attention because Saif has American citizenship. This isn't the first time this happened, multiple US citizens have been killed either by Israeli citizens or Israeli soldiers and I think that there should definitely be a change in it and they [the US administration] should do something about it because honestly ... I am lost for words."
Iyad, who is from California, was also visiting for the summer. "It is sad people have to be cautious in their own land, it is sad that every time Palestinians leave their home they are at risk," he said.
Three other young Palestinian Americans have been killed in the occupied West Bank since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023. Their cases, which involved Israeli soldiers and settlers, remain unresolved. "It makes you feel hopeless, it makes you sad. Here in the village, we deal with this on a daily basis," Hafeth Abdel Jabbar told DW about the latest killings. His 17-year-old son, Tawfiq, a US citizen from Louisiana, was shot and killed in 2024 near the town and until now, no one was charged for the crime.
"The crazy thing is that our government is supporting such a regime with racists and extremists that are supporting these settlers, and it's okay to do that to us, they treat us like we're not human beings. That's what flips your mind," Abdel Jabbar said.
While the previous US administration issued sanctions against some radical settlers, these were rescinded by President Donald Trump shortly after taking office.
Razek Hassan al-Shalabi said he was not confident that his many questions surrounding Mohammed's death would ever be answered by the Israeli authorities. He was trying to keep himself together for the young men's joint funeral on Sunday. "We weren't just father and son," he said. "We were friends." Overwhelmed by grief, he was unable to finish his thought.
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Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Times of Oman
West Bank: Deadly Israeli settler attack on Palestinians
Ramallah: A school courtyard in al-Mazra'a al-Sharqiya, a town in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has been transformed into a large mourning tent after two young men were killed in what their families describe as the latest attack by Israeli settlers. Twenty-year-old Sayfollah Musallet, a US citizen from Florida, was beaten to death and Mohammed al-Shalabi, 23, was shot during Friday's attack, their families said. Residents say the settlers blocked efforts to help the dying youths. Razek Hassan al-Shalabi, Mohammad's father, sat among the town's inhabitants and relatives who came to mourn the young men at the school. "In the morning he told me he wanted to get married," he told DW. "He talked about starting a family, and now we bury him." Across the street, at the Musallet home, women gathered to support the family in their grief. Saif, as Sayfollah was nicknamed, had arrived in June from his hometown, Tampa, to spend the summer with relatives in the town, which is roughly 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Ramallah. "He was like a little brother," Diana Halum, a cousin who is acting as the family's spokesperson, told DW. "We travelled together, back and forth from the States to Palestine. He came here to visit his cousins, his friends." "Not in a million years did we think something so tragic would happen," Halum said. "And it's just, it's the way they killed him, too. I mean, he was lynched by aggressive, illegal Israeli settlers, and left there for hours." On Friday, the family released a statement saying medics had tried to reach Musallet for three hours before his brother managed to carry him to an ambulance. He died before they could make it to the hospital. "This is an unimaginable nightmare and injustice that no family should ever have to face," the family said. "We demand the US State Department lead an immediate investigation and hold the Israeli settlers who killed Saif accountable for their crimes." The State Department says it is aware of reports of a death of a US citizen in the West Bank. Officials declined to comment further "out of respect for the privacy of the family" but said the department was ready "to provide consular services." 'A daily reality' in the West Bank The youths had gathered with others following Friday's noon prayers to show their presence in the fields where, just weeks ago, settlers attacked residents who had organized a march to protest settler violence and attempts to seize the land. In an initial statement following Friday's attack, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that "terrorists hurled rocks at Israeli civilians," leading to a "violent confrontation" that included "the vandalism of Palestinian property, arson, physical clashes and rock hurling." The IDF acknowledged reports that at least one Palestinian had been killed and a number injured and claimed that the incident would be "looked into." The families say the youths' bodies showed signs of torture. In response to an inquiry from DW, the IDF referred to its earlier statement and added that "following the incident, a joint investigation was launched by the Israel Police and the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division." It was just the latest violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, in southern Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, such attacks have become "a daily reality," according to the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs. Between January 2024 and May 2025, OCHA has documented over 2,070 settler attacks, resulting in casualties and property damage in the West Bank. Settlers regularly raid villages or install illegal outposts to harass and threaten Palestinians, often in the presence of Israeli soldiers or police who do not interfere. Israeli rights groups and Palestinians report that settlers have been recruited as reservists. West Bank | Al-Mazra'a a-Sharqiya Shock, grief, resignation For several hours following the attack, Razek Hassan al-Shalabi said, he had believed that his son Mohammed was in IDF custody. When he discovered that evening that the information was incorrect, local residents searched for Mohammed. According to the family and the Palestinian Health Ministry, they found him severely beaten and shot in the back. Friends of the two young men gathered at the school on Saturday, looking shocked. Iyad, who declined to give his surname, said that his cousin Saif and Mohammed were in the same friendship group and used to hang out together. "They were always the ones that would cheer everyone up, they never brought you down, if you needed them, they were always there," Iyad told DW. A young Palestinian American himself, Iyad said people in the occupied West Bank also believed that Israeli settlers carried out their attacks with a sense of impunity. He said the United States rarely intervened on the behalf of people who were the victims of such attacks or their families. "Sadly this only got attention because Saif has American citizenship. This isn't the first time this happened, multiple US citizens have been killed either by Israeli citizens or Israeli soldiers and I think that there should definitely be a change in it and they [the US administration] should do something about it because honestly ... I am lost for words." Iyad, who is from California, was also visiting for the summer. "It is sad people have to be cautious in their own land, it is sad that every time Palestinians leave their home they are at risk," he said. Three other young Palestinian Americans have been killed in the occupied West Bank since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023. Their cases, which involved Israeli soldiers and settlers, remain unresolved. "It makes you feel hopeless, it makes you sad. Here in the village, we deal with this on a daily basis," Hafeth Abdel Jabbar told DW about the latest killings. His 17-year-old son, Tawfiq, a US citizen from Louisiana, was shot and killed in 2024 near the town and until now, no one was charged for the crime. "The crazy thing is that our government is supporting such a regime with racists and extremists that are supporting these settlers, and it's okay to do that to us, they treat us like we're not human beings. That's what flips your mind," Abdel Jabbar said. While the previous US administration issued sanctions against some radical settlers, these were rescinded by President Donald Trump shortly after taking office. Razek Hassan al-Shalabi said he was not confident that his many questions surrounding Mohammed's death would ever be answered by the Israeli authorities. He was trying to keep himself together for the young men's joint funeral on Sunday. "We weren't just father and son," he said. "We were friends." Overwhelmed by grief, he was unable to finish his thought.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Times of Oman
"Very bad sign of things escalating in Canada, Carney's first major test on security": Canadian journalist on Kap's Cafe attack
Vancouver: Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman called the attack on a cafe owned by comedian Kapil Sharma a "very bad sign of things escalating in Canada" and said that it is Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's first "major test on security." In an interview with ANI, Bordman pointed out the recent attacks in Canada, including the targeting of temples by Khalistanis. He also talked on how terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International has claimed responsibility for it and called it imperative for Carney to set some deterrence so that there is decrease in crime in Canada. When asked about shooting at Kap's Cafe in Surrey, he said, "It's a very bad sign of things escalating in Canada. I mean we have already seen a big uptick in extremist violence, especially post-October 7th. The Khalistanis have been going on for a few years as well. We've seen fire bombings of synagogues, shooting up of Jewish play schools. We've seen, of course, the attack on the mandir by the Khalistanis. But this is disturbing because it presents sort of a new type of escalation, because this is an attack on a cafe that opened a few days ago, owned by a famous Indian comedian. But what's interesting about this one is the Babbar Khalsa International, a listed terrorist organization in both Babbar Khalsa International infamously blew up the Air India 182. They're taking responsibility for it." "So not only, I mean, it'd be one thing if this was sort of a random attack, whereas a wink, wink. This is like sort of a Khalistani extortion racket type thing and we have that going on. But this is another step up the ladder where it's an act of violence and intimidation, where they then post the media, the social media themselves post their crime online. They post their crime online and then they take responsibility for it. This is usually what you expect in Yemen or Pakistan or Somalia or other places in the Middle East where a terrorist attack happens and then a group enthusiastically wants to take credit for it because they're a terror organization and terror organizations usually are able to sort of live in lawless land. That's why again you see terrorist organizations pop up in Yemen and Somalia, places that are generally considered lawless and not I don't really have functioning governments But, This is Canada where we electorally do have a functioning government," he added. Several gun shots rang outside Kap's Cafe, owned by comedian Kapil Sharma, in Canada's Surrey at 1:50 am (local time) on Thursday, according to Surrey Police Service. Police said some staff members were present inside the restaurant at the time of the shooting. No one was hurt in the incident. The cafe had opened a few days back. He said that the response to the attack will show whether Canada under Mark Carney's leadership is any different to how the country was under former PM Justin Trudeau's government. "This is a massive test to Mark Carney's leadership we saw the country get out of control under Justin Trudeau's tenure. This is Mark Carney's first major test on security and we will see if Mark Carney's Canada is in any way different than just in Trudeau's Canada. So, with British Columbia now waking up to this news, we will see over the next 12 hours or so just how the establishment responds to this terrorist attack," he said. Bordman stated that extremist groups like Khalistani, Muslim Brotherhood offshoots, Hezbollah supporters are active in Canada and mentioned about the attacks on churches, synagogues. He expressed hope that there is an investigation into the attack and the people behind it are arrested. On how he sees the attack as there have been such attacks in Surrey in the past as well, he responded, "I find this one interesting because it's the claiming credit and the public posting of it. That's what really sets us off from the other one. Yes, Surrey has seen violence. We've seen Khalistani intimidation. This is nothing new, but it's when they go up the ladder that presents a real problem because it then inspires other extremists. Because again, the Khalistanis aren't the only extremist group active in Canada. You have Muslim Brotherhood offshoots, you have Hezbollah supporters and again, there are churches are being attacked by mostly radical Marxists. Synagogues are being attacked. So, when one group goes up the escalation ladder, it usually moves the needle forward for all other groups if nothing's done about it. So, when this is now sort of a clock, we've climbed a ladder ...in Canada today. It is sort of imperative that Mark Carney make sure and set some deterrence that you do not go up the ladder, in which case you'll see a decrease in crime in Canada." "But if this is sort of swept away and the RCMP and and Surrey police and and start staring at their feet and kicking rocks and the provincial government says this is a federal issue and the federal government says is provincial issue the provincial government says well It's local and the local says no, it's federal and the federal says no It's provincial right if you get into that cycle where everyone starts deferring responsibility, then you'll see a massive increase in violence you'll see because that's what a sort of a terrorist mentality is they always check to see what they can get away with. So if you say, you can get away with shooting up a restaurant in the middle of the posting about it, taking responsibility for it... well now you have people openly claiming responsibility for crimes posting on crimes and getting away with it. It's gonna set what's the next step, what's what's the next, well are they gone a shoot at a restaurant, when there are people actually inside of it, when its closed, what's the next level of terrorist intimidation they're gonna do," he added. Expressing hope that there is an action taken against those behind the attack, he said, "Hopefully we don't figure it out, hopefully this is deterred, hopefully actually there is real consequences hopefully the people behind this are arrested or detained or deported or there's some visible consequences to institute deterrence. But, we will have to wait and see what Mark Carney does about this because he wants trade with india apparently he's invited Modi,... Khalistani terrorist threatening to kill everyone are actually threatened to kill everyone. So, this is the first major test of okay when it comes down to it. Like an open terrorist attack in Canada and extremist attack. They're posting about it. What will Mark Carney Police force justice system do about this and and and that will have to wait and see." He spoke on how Canada's criminal justice system is different from what it is in the US, where trials are done more openly and people have access to all the stuff. He noted that Canada keeps everything under wraps and releases information only when the trial is completed. On what action he expects from Carney's leadership on the attack, he said, "It is hard to know, because Canada in defence of Mark Carney or Justin Trudeau is not like America in the criminal justice way. I mean, entire world tends to view itself through an American lens, and not just an American lens, the type of America that exists on television. So, American television shows, that's our sort of view of the justice system. But, Canada's very much not like that. So whereas the American system tends to do trials more openly, public has access to all this stuff. Canada's ... has always been to keep everything hush hush and completely under wraps, the trial is completed and then release information to the public all about that. So, don't expect any like big declarations and press conferences from the Canadian police just claiming they got their guy. But I do hope that something is done because again individuals did claim responsibility for this."So, in order to deter this, this you're going to need some sort of strong response to the RCMP and if they don't arrest everyone, there's going to have to be arrests made. I think within a few days, you're going to need to see arrests in order for there to be some deterrent." "And in Canada, it's a very top-down system, cults of personalities. So, it ultimately does follow the Mar Carney, because we can pretend that there's a separation between the federal government and the judiciary. But the SNC-Lavalin scandal showed that that's absolutely not the case. This is a country where Mark Carney if he decides to enforce the law here the criminal will go to jail and if he decides to not enforce the law the criminal will not go to jail. So, it ultimately will fall. I mean Mark Carney Prime Minister, also premier David Eby of the NDP hardcore socialists. I don't expect them to do anything. But, they both have the power to enforce the law here Because again, that's kind of how Canada works. We pretend it isn't because it says so on paper, but that's absolutely not case in reality. It is interesting and I don't want to be too pessimistic," he added. Daniel Bordman said that he would have expected no action from Trudeau-led government. However, he stated that they have not seen how Carney handles the incident, as he has been taking measures to repair Canada's ties with India and called it his "first major test." "If Justin Trudeau was still prime minister, I'd say nothing would happen. That would be my bet. But we haven't seen how Mark Carney handles this and Mark Carney actually has been taking steps to repair the Canada-India relation and this is his first major test. So I would not be surprised if Mark Carney does something here, which is a positive development of Canadian politics," he stated. Diplomatic tensions between the two nations flared up in 2023 after then Canadian PM Justin Trudeau alleged that his government had "credible allegations" of India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in 2023. India had strongly denied the charges, calling them "absurd" and "politically motivated." With Mark Carney now serving as Canada's PM, both countries appear to be taking steps to improve ties. According to Ministry of External Affairs, PM Narendra Modi and Carney had a "key meeting" at the G7 Summit where they discussed ways to restore and strengthen the bilateral relationship. At least 10 bullet holes were visible in a window at Kap's Cafe on Thursday morning, while another window pane was broken. The building, where the cafe is located, has retail units at ground level and residential apartments above; however, it is not known how many residents live in the building. A multi-faith centre and two other businesses, which are yet to open, occupy other ground-level units. Officers could be seen in the restaurant gathering evidence while children were playing across the street outside a daycare located in Newton neighbourhood that is now cordoned off by police tape, Vancouver Sun reported. Surrey Police Service (SPS) said that the investigation is still in the very early stages and "and connections to other incident and potential motives are being examined." Police do not have a suspect description yet and the motive behind the shooting has not been determined, Vancouver Sun reported.
Times of Oman
6 days ago
- Times of Oman
India can play enhanced role for peace, stability in West Asia: Iranian envoy
New Delhi: Iran's Ambassador to India, Iraj Elahi, on Wednesday urged India to play a more significant role in promoting regional peace. He made the remarks on the sidelines of the event, 'Voices of Conscience: A solidarity gathering for Palestine'. Speaking with ANI, Ambassador Elahi said India can play an enhanced role in the peace and stability of the region. "India as a big country, can play a more efficient role for the peace and stability of the region. We believe that there is a grand strategy from the US and Israel. They are going to change the maps of the region by different actions and plans. Any changes in the region, will not be for the benefit of the whole region. We believe that all countries have influence and potential and should do their best to keep the peace and stability of the region," he said. He also referred to Chabahar port, a collaborative project between the two countries. "Chabahar was active and operative during the war. The rate of transit from Chabahar is increasing yearly... Chabahar will be connected to the national railway network in the coming months," he said, underscoring its role as the "shortest, cheapest, and safest route" to Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Eurasia. India has undertaken to develop the Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar, Iran, by equipping and operating General Cargo and Container Terminal for a period of 10 years, as per the Long Term Main Contract from May 13, 2024. The Iranian Envoy also talked about his country's conflict with Israel. "Iran did not request for any ceasefire. If you review the Iranian strike and the Iranian military operation to defend itself, the trend was increasing... We were ready to continue the war and defend ourselves. When they stopped their aggression, we also stopped our retaliation," he said. Iraj Elahi accused Israel of "breaking ceasefires". "Israel has broken the ceasefire in Gaza, and in Lebanon too many times.... This is why we are cautious and ready for any scenario," he said. Elahi also criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the US and his nomination of former US President Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize, calling it a "misuse of peace and stability." "The international community will not accept this propaganda... Netanyahu cannot do genocide in Gaza without the support of the US." He also talked of Iran suspending cooperation with IAEA. "The public opinion of Iran is not satisfied with what they have witnessed from IAEA... Iranian Parliament has passed a bill to stop any cooperation with IAEA," he said. Reaffirming Iran's support for the Palestinian cause, the envoy described the situation in Gaza as a "shameful". "The ongoing genocide in Gaza is shameful for all human beings. It is difficult and expressing grief is not enough. Those countries who have good influence and good relations with Israel should convince Netanyahu to stop this genocide," he said.
